Wilva
A feminine name likely derived from the Germanic name "Willa".
Name Census estimates that about 3 living Americans carry the first name Wilva. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Wilva today is around 99 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Wilva births was 1916 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Wilva. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Wilva is about 99 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Wilvas were born before 1937.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Wilva. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
3
~ 1 in 114,251,446 Americans
Peak year
1916
7 babies that year
Average age
99
years old
1938 SSA rank
#4,980
Tracked since 1912
Popularity
Wilva: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Wilva from the 1910s through to the 1930s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1910s, with 23 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1910s peak, Wilva remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Wilva by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Wilva during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Wilva
The name Wilva finds its origins in the ancient Germanic languages, where it is believed to have first emerged in the 5th century AD. The name is derived from the Proto-Germanic root word "wiljan," which means "will" or "desire." This root word later evolved into various forms across different Germanic dialects, leading to the name Wilva.
In the early medieval period, the name Wilva was primarily used by Germanic tribes across central and northern Europe. It gained popularity among the Franks, Saxons, and Lombards, who were influential in shaping the cultural landscape of the region during that time. The name was often associated with strength, determination, and a resolute spirit.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Wilva can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus, a collection of medieval charters and documents from the 9th century. In this text, a Frankish nobleman named Wilva is mentioned as a witness to a land grant issued by King Charlemagne in the year 814 AD.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Wilva. In the 10th century, Wilva of Saxony was a renowned scholar and chronicler whose writings provided valuable insights into the cultural and political dynamics of the Holy Roman Empire. Another prominent figure was Wilva the Brave, a Danish warrior who fought alongside King Canute the Great during the 11th century and played a pivotal role in the conquest of England.
In the realm of literature, the name Wilva gained recognition through the works of the 12th-century Icelandic poet and historian, Snorri Sturluson. His sagas and poetic writings featured characters with the name Wilva, reflecting the enduring cultural significance of this name in the Nordic regions.
During the Renaissance period, a notable figure named Wilva Dei Medici emerged as a patron of the arts in Florence, Italy. Her support and patronage contributed significantly to the flourishing of the arts and culture in the city during the 15th century.
In the 19th century, Wilva von Humboldt, a German philosopher and linguist, made significant contributions to the field of comparative linguistics and the study of indigenous languages. Her work helped shape our understanding of language evolution and cultural diversity.
While the name Wilva has fallen out of widespread use in modern times, its rich historical legacy serves as a testament to its enduring presence across various cultures and time periods. From ancient Germanic tribes to the intellectual circles of the Renaissance and beyond, the name Wilva has left an indelible mark on the tapestry of human history.
People
Wilva + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Wilva as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with W
Other first names starting with W with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Wilva: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Wilva?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 3 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Wilva going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 114,251,446 US residents.
Is Wilva a common name?
We classify Wilva as "Very Rare". It ranks above 4.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 40 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Wilva most popular?
The single biggest year for Wilva was 1916, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Wilva is about 99 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Wilva in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Wilva a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Wilva in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Wilva still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Wilva in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Wilva can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have the name Wilva?
If you just want to know how many Americans are named Wilva, HowManyOfMe.org gives you the headline number in one glance.